Senior Policy Analysts

Senior Policy Analysts - Regional and Communities and Housing Policy teams
- **Two Senior Policy Analyst roles, seeking experienced Senior Policy Analysts.**:

- **Permanent and Fixed Term/Secondment (12 month) opportunities.**:

- **Wellington Based.**

**Make a meaningful impact on the lives of all New Zealanders**

**Mo te tunga / About the role**

Are you passionate about supporting and influencing social change for families, whanau, and individuals across Aotearoa New Zealand?

We are seeking experienced, motivated and inquiring Senior Policy Analysts to join our Regional and Communities and Housing Policy teams here at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). We will provide you with a range of diverse experiences, from being involved in supporting short-term tangible change through to influencing longer-term strategic work. You will work both across MSD and with a range of agencies and stakeholders.

Within the Policy Group we have vacancies in the following teams:

- Regional and Communities Policy.
- Housing Policy.

**The Regional and Communities Policy team** provides meaningful policy advice to Government Ministers on a range of priority social policy issues relating to emergency management, organised crime, the Regional Public Service Leadership Framework (which the MSD Chief Executive, Debbie Power, is the System Lead for) and food security issues. Across the group, we work closely with a range of stakeholders including our Maori, Communities and Partnerships team within MSD and other government departments including the National Emergency Management Agency, Te Puni Kokiri, the Police, Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children, Te Puna Aonui and many others. We also have close relationships with a range of community partners and stakeholders.

**The Housing Policy team**provides policy advice to Ministers on housing-related social assistance with a focus on the lower end of the housing market. We support our service delivery colleagues to improve housing outcomes, employment and greater independence for our most vulnerable. We work across government with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Kainga Ora - Homes and Communities. We have a varied policy work programme, addressing both immediate issues and preparing advice on the longer-term direction. We are often required to prepare advice in tight timeframes.

**Mou - Nga Pukenga me nga Wheako / Skills and experience**
- We're keen to hear from motivated Senior Policy Analysts who can provide or contribute to advice that is clear, well-reasoned and politically neutral.
- We're looking for great people skills as you'll be working collaboratively on projects with stakeholders across our organisation and externally.
- We're keen on people who will fit our collegial, supportive culture, and have the action orientation to shape, lead and contribute to policy work that is a priority for Ministers and our Chief Executive.
- You'll need strong analytical and critical thinking ability and excellent judgement, with an ability to bring together evidence to draw conclusions on key issues and their root causes.

**As a Senior Policy Analyst, we'll expect you to demonstrate**:

- Leadership ability and experience in providing advice on complex issues along with the skills and an interest in coaching and developing others.
- Experience in enhancing the team's capability, including supporting junior staff with their projects.

We are interested in hearing about any form of experience, in policy or otherwise, you might have that would contribute to this role.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Clear communication skills, particularly strong writing skills.
- Collaborative working style.
- Perseverance.
- Curiosity and critical thinking.
- Understanding of te Ao Maori and commitment to upholding Te Tiriti Waitangi.

**Te mahi ki konei / Working here**

The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent. We develop social policy and provide advice to government and work with and help fund providers in the community. We also deliver social services and assistance, including income, employment and housing support, to people of all ages, families, whanau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we work towards supporting and enabling Maori, whanau, hapu, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations. We aim to acknowledge and be guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to pursue the following values in our work:
**Manaaki** - We care about the wellbeing and success of people
**Mahi tahi** - We work together, making a difference for communities
**Whanau** - We are inclusive and build a sense of belonging and place
**Tika me te pono** - We do the right thing with integrity

This team is part of a busy Policy Branch. The branch has a supportive team environment where people are f